“It’s wonderful that our children have the day off from school. But it is not wonderful that none of his books are required reading in any of our secondary schools,” Hamm said at the podium during the annual event, which was co-sponsored by the Montclair Chapter of the NAACP, the Montclair African American Clergy Association and the Montclair Clergy Association.

Hamm told youngsters attending the event to stand up for what is right, even though it is easier said than done. He also told them to “live like King,” in a booming voice that commanded the attention of the crowd.

“You want to be doctors and you want to be lawyers, and that’s all right because you’ve got to make a living. But be a person that stands for truth. Be a person that stands for freedom. Be a person that stands for justice. Be a person that stands for equality.”